Card retaining device for rotary filing apparatus



y 6 M. CONDE-GARRIGA 3,197,256

CARD RETAINING DEVICE FOR ROTARY FILING APPARATUS Y Original Filed Feb. 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Mal-Ia Qkd- July 27, 1965 M. CONDE-GARRIGA 3,197,266

CARD RETAINING DEVICE FOR ROTARY FILING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ma M! Gw7= July 27, 1965 M. CONDE-GARRIGA 3,197,266

CARD RETAINING DEVICE FOR RCTARY FILING APPARATUS )riginal Filed Feb. 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. 7d-riu (awa y CARD RE Uri TAINING glnal Flled Feb. 5 1959 DEVICE FOR ROTARY FILIN G APPARAT 4 Sheet heet 4 United States Patent M 3,197,266 QARE) RETAENING DEVECE FOR ROTARY FlLENG APPARATUS Mario Conde-Garriga, Avda. Jose Antomio 617, Barcelona, Spain Original application Feb. 5, E59, Ser. No. 791,368, new Patent No. 3,052,509, dated Sept. 4, H62. Divided and this applieatien duly 12, 1962, Ser. No. 209,463 6 Claims. (@i. 312-186) This is a division of application Serial No. 791,368, new Patent No. 3,052,509, issued Sept. 4, 1962.

This invention relates to apparatus for the filing of filing cards, folders and other similar articles, and particularly to rotary apparatus of this kind consisting of a rotary drum in the periphery of which several compartments are formed in order to hold any given number of cards, each said compartment being provided with means for retaining the cards in position when the compartments are reversed during rotation of the drum.

More specifically, the subject matter of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of the kind referred to above, new means for holding the filing cards or the like material in position within the compartment when the latter is not in its upwards, use position.

In one embodiment, the said mechanism consists of a bridge member having the shape of an inverted U near the base of which and upon the respective uprights of which the support means proper for the filing cards or the like are articulated, the said bridge member bearing, to this end, on the sides of the respective compartment. The said bridge member is, in turn, articulated to the lateral Wall of each compartment in the manner of a lever of the first order and is connected at the ends of its uprights to a connecting rod which transmits the movement thereof to a projecting member connected to a means for compressing the cards or the like material and emerging to the outside through a suitable curved aperture. The retention of the locked position of the said system is efiected by means of a suitable catch.

A variant of this locking system comprises, as a means for actuating the support members, two parallel arms which are fixed in rotation at their ends opposite to those at which they are connected to the aforementioned support means, by a common pivot member disposed below the compartment and passing through the walls of the same, relatively to which it is suitably articulated.

In a further embodiment, the support means consist of plates hinged to the longitudinal edges of each compartment and provided with means for the manual or automatic operation thereof, and connected together at one of their ends to a system of connecting rods for simultaneous operation.

In cases in which the said support means are stationary, actuation of the compressor member is effected by means of a curved lever mounted for pivotal motion on the lateral wall of the drum, connected to the said compressor member and co-operating with a suitable cam device fast to the casing of the rotary drum above referred to.

Other and further features of the invention will appear from the detailed discussion of some preferred embodiments in connection with the joined drawings.

In these drawings: 7

FTGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the closed and the open positions, respectively, of one embodiment of the invention;

3,197,266 Patented July 27, 1965 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to those of FIGURES 1 and 2, corresponding to a further embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of another embodiment, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a compartment in use position in the filing apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an element for supporting cards 1 or the like material contained in a compartn ent of a rotary drum for a rotary filing apparatus, comprises a bridge member 2 carrying and articulated at 3 to. su port members 4 which are connected together at their rearward end by a cross-member 5. The support members 4 bear on the edges 6 of the compartment and their position is fixed by a catch 7 acting on arms 8 and preventing oscillation of the said bridge member 2 about its pivotal connection 9 to the compartment wall.

A compressor 1% is pivotally connected to the compartment wall and is provided with a projecting pin 11 passing thorough a curved orifice 12 in the said wall, the said pin being connected to the arm 3 of the bridge member by means of a connecting rod 13.

FIG. 2 shows the mechanism in the open position.

The catch 7 is provided with an operating lever 1 with the aid of which it is possible to overcome the action of the spring 15 and to cause the said catch to release the arms 3. A spring 16 oscillates then the bridge member 2 and the assembly assumes the position of FIG. 2. A connecting rod 13 also oscillates the bridge member 2, thus releasing the tiling cards or other material which can be easily handled.

Closure of the compartment may be suitably performed by acting upon the bridge member 2 until the catch 7 engages the arms 8. The mechanical connection between the bridge member 2 and the compressor 16 may equally Well be provided on one or both sides of the compartmerit.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the locking mechanism, wherein the upper bridge member of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been replaced by a spindle 17 disposed below the bottom 3 of the compartment, to which spindle, ivotally mounted on the walls of the said compartment, are connected two arms 19 to the upper ends of which are secured the support member 4 for gripping the cards or the like material, the said arms being provided with a handle 29 for actuation of the locking means. A ring 21 is fastened to one end of the spindle 17 by means of a split pin 22 and carries one arm 19 welded thereon. The opposite end of the spindle is directly welded or otherwise fastened to the opposite arm 19.

It is to be understood that the device described in connection with FIG. 3 is provided with the other complernentary elements described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, which have been omitted in this case with a view of simplification.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment in which the support members 4 of the previous cases are replaced by upper plates 23 hinged at 24 on the edges of the compartment. One or both ends of these plates are connected by two levers 25 articulated to the ends of a rocker member 26. Opening of the said support plates is effected by means of the compressor 19 which normally engages the recesses 27 formed in the plates and may be oscillated to release the same and permit their opening under the action of the spring 28 which is connected to the rocker member 26. The compressor is subjected to a the action of a spring 29 connected to the arm 29a fastened to one fulcrum of the said compressor, the said spring initiating the oscillation of the compressor when it is released from the recesses in the support plates 23. Locking of the device is effected by driving the compressor in the opposite direction until it is aligned with the recesses 27. Thereafter one or both plates are folded onto the compartment until engagement of the said recesses with the compressor which is, then, held in position under the action of the spring 29.

FIG. 6 illustrates an arrangement which comprises lateral Wings integral with the edges of the compartment walls and covering a part of the length thereof. In this case the compressor is articulated to a lever 31, articulated at 32 in the manner of a rocker member, on the lower end of the pivoted arm of the compressor 11 and connected at one end to the projecting pivot 33 on the compressor, which pivot extends to the outside of the compartment through the curved aperture 12 formed in the wall thereof. The opposite end of the lever 31 is provided with a roller 34 which rolls on the edge of a disc 35, secured to the walls of the casing, not shown, containing the rotary drum of the apparatus, the said disc having a depressed portion 37 acting as a cam for causing oscillation of the compressor as appears from the figure. The extraction of the cards may then. be effected with all possible ease through the free space 33 in front of the fixed wings 30. There is further provided a spring 39 the purpose of which is to constantly press the roller 34 onto the edge of the disc 35 so that it may act on the lever 28.

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 arranged in the housing 36 of a filing apparatus only partly shown in FIG. 7. The card compartment is shown in a position in which the cards stored therein can be removed theretrom.

It is obvious, of course, that several modifications, such as sizes, shapes and any suitable materials may be used in the practice of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a rotary filing apparatus, in combination,

a card storage compartment having a pair of parallel walls, a transverse wall and an opening and adapted to store a plurality of cards;

obstructing means mounted on said card storage compartment and movable from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the opening of said compartment and perm-its the removal of cards from the said compartment to an operative position in which it partially obstructs the opening of the said compartment and prevents the removal of cards from the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position;

pressure means located at least in part between said parallel walls pivotally supported on said card storage compartment and movable between said parallel walls from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from cards in said compartment to an operative position in which it urges cards in the said compartment together and toward said transverse wall of the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position;

manually operable coupling means mechanically coupling said obstructing means and said pressure means for simultaneously moving each of said obstructing means and said pressure means into its inoperative position and for simultaneously moving each of the said obstructing means and the said pressure means into its operative position; and

manually operable locking means in operative proximity with said coupling means for simultaneously releasably locking each of said obstructing means and said pressure means in its operative posit-ion.

2. In rotary filing apparatus, in combination,

a card storage compartment having a pair of parallel walls, a transverse wall and an opening and adapted to store a plurality of cards;

obstructing means mounted on said card storage compartment and movable from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the opening of said compartment and permits the removal of cards from the said compartment to an operative position in which it partially obstructs the opening of the said compartment and prevents the removal of cards from the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position;

pressure means located at least in part between said parallel walls pivotally supported on said card storage compartment and movable between said parallel walls from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from cards in said compartment to an op erative position in which it urges cards in the said compartment together and toward said transverse wall of the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position;

manually operable coupling means mechanically coupling said obstructing means and said pressure means for simultaneously moving each of said obstructing means and said pressure means into its inoperative position and for simultaneously moving each of the said obstructing means and the said pressure means into its operative position, said coupling means comprising clamping means pivotally afiixed to said compartment for clamping in its clamping position said obstructing means in its operative position and for releasing in its open position said obstructing means; and

manually operable locking means in operative proximobstructing means mounted on said card storage compartment and movable from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the opening of said compartment and permits the removal of cards from the said compartment to an operative position in which it partially obstructs the opening of the said compartment and prevents the removal of cards from the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position;

pressure means located at least in part between said parallel walls pivotally supported on said card storage compartment and movable between said parallel walls from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from cards in said compartment to an operative position in which it urges cards in the said compartment together and toward said transverse wall of the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position;

manually operable coupling means mechanically coupling said obstructing means and said pressure means for simultaneously moving each of said obstructing means and said pressure means into its inoperative position and for simultaneously moving each of the said obstructing means and the said pressure means into its operative position, said coupling means comprising clamping means pivotally afiixed to said compartment, and to said obstructing means for clamping in its clamping position said obstructing means in its operative position and for releasing in its open position said obstructing means and a coupling member pivotally afiixed to said clamping means and to said pressure means; and

manually operable locking means in operative proximity with said coupling means for simultaneously releasably locking each of said obstructing means and said pressure means in its operative position, said locking means comprising a locking member for holding the clamping means of said coupling means in its clamping position and for releasing said clamping means under manual control.

4. In rotary filing apparatus, in combination,

a card storage compartment having a pair of parallel walls, a transverse wall and and an opening and adapted to store a plurality of cards;

obstructing means mounted on said card storage compartment and movable from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the opening of said compartment and permits the removal of cards from the said compartment to an operative position in which it partially obstructs the opening of the said compartment and prevents the removal of cards from the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position, said obstructing means comprising a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel arms joined at corresponding ends by a base portion, the arms of said obstructing means being positioned substantially directly over portions of the edges of cards in said compartment in said operative position of the said obstructing means;

pressure means located at least in part between said parallel Walls pivotally supported on said card storage compartment and movable between said parallel Walls from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from cards in said compartment to an operative position in which it urges cards in the said compartment together and toward said transverse Wall of the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position;

manually operable coupling means mechanically coupling said obstructing means and said pressure means .for simultaneously moving each of said obstructing means and said pressure means into its inoperative position and for simultaneously moving each of the said obstructing means and the said pressure means into its operative position; and

manually operable locking means in operative proximity with said coupling means for simultaneously releasably locking each of said obstructing means and said pressure means in its operative position.

5. In rotary filing apparatus, in combination,

a card storage compartment having a pair of parallel walls, a transverse wall and an opening and adapted to store a plurality of cards;

obstructing means mounted on said card storage compartment and movable from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the opening of said compartment and permits the removal of cards from the said compartment to an operative position in which it partially obstructs the opening of the said compartment and prevents the removal of cards from the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position, said obstructing means comprising a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel arms joined at corresponding ends by a base portion, the arms of said obstructing means being positioned substantially directly over portions of the edges of cards in said compartment in said operative position of the said obstructing means;

pressure means located at least in part between said parallel walls pivotally supported on said card storage compartment and movable between said parallel Walls from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from cards in said compartment to an operative position in which it urges cards in the said compartment together and toward said transverse Wall of the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position, said pressure means comprising a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel arms joined at corresponding ends by a base portion, said pressure means being pivotally aflixed to said compartment at the other ends of its arms;

manually operable coupling means mechanically coupling said obstructing means and said pressure means for simultaneously moving each of said obstructing means and said pressure means into its inoperative position and for simultaneously moving each of the said obstructing means and the said pressure means into its operative position; and

manually operable locking means in operative proximity with said coupling means for simultaneously releasably locking each of said obstructing means and said pressure means in its operative position,

6. In rotary tiling apparatus, in combination,

a card storage compartment having a pair of parallel walls, a transverse wall and an opening and adapted to store -a plurality of cards;

obstructing means mounted on said card storage compartment and movable from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the open ng of said compartment and permits the removal of cards from the said compartment to an operative position in which it partially obstructs the opening of the said compartment and prevents the removal of cards from the said compartment and from said operative posi tion to said inoperative position, said obstructing means comprising a substantially Ushaped member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel arms joined at corresponding ends by a base portion, the arms of said obstructing means being positioned substantially directly over portions of the edges of cards in said compartment in said operative position of the said obstructing means;

pressure means located at least in part between said parallel Walls pivotally supported on said card storage compartment and movable between said parallel Walls from an inoperative position in which it is spaced from cards in said compartment to an operative position in which it urges cards in the said compartment together and toward said transverse wall of the said compartment and from said operative position to said inoperative position, said pressure means comprising a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel arm-s joined at corresponding ends by a base portion, said pressure means being pivotally affixed to said compartment at the other end of its arms;

manulaly operable coupling means mechanically coupling said obstructing means and said pressure means for simultaneously moving each of said obstructing means and said pressure means into its inoperative position and for simultaneously moving each of the said obstructing means and the said pressure means into its operative position, said coupling means comprising clarnping means of substantially U-shaped configuration having a pair of spaced substantially parallel arms joined at corresponding ends by a base .portion pivotally afiixed to the arms of said obstructing means in the area of the base of sad clamping means for clamping in its clamping position said obstructing means in its operative position and for releasing in its open position said obstructing means; and

manually operable locking means in operative proximity with said coupling means for simultaneously releasably locking each of said obstructing means and said pressure means in its operative position, said locking means comprising a locking member mounted on said compartment and pivotally affixed to the arms of said clamping means for holding said clamp- 7 g 7 ing means in its damping position and for releasing 1,313,150 8/19 VJood 312-191 said clamping means under manual control. 1,929,612 10/ 33 Straubel 312271 X 2,477,786 8/49 Bruen 312136 References Cited by the Exammer 2,331,742 4 53 Paps 312 1g7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 959,943 5/10 Jones 312186 1 01 247 2 12 Burton 312 271 CHANCELLOR E. HARRiS, Examiner. 

1. IN A ROTARY FILING APARATUS, IN COMBINATIN, IN ARD STORAGE COMPARTMENT HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL WALLS, A TRANSVERSE WALL AND AN OPENING AND ADAPTED TO STORE A PLURALITY OF CARDS; OBSTRUCTING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARD STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND MOVEABLE FROM AN INOPOERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH IT IS SPACED FROM THE OPENING OF SAID COMPARTMENT AND PERMITS THE REMOVAL OF CARDS FROM THE SAID COMPARTMENT TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH IT PAETIALLY OBSTRUCTS THE OPENING OF THE SAID COMPARTMENT AND PREVENTS THE REMOVAL OF CARDS FROM THE SAID COMPARTMENT AND FROM SAID OPERATIVE POSITION TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION; PRESSURE MEANS LOCATED AT LEAST IN PART BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL WALLS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID CARD STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND MOVABLE BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL WALLS FROM AN INOOPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH IT IS SPACED FROM CARDS IN SAID COMPARTMENT TOA AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH IT URGES CARDS IN THE SAID COMPARTMENT TOGETHER AND TOWARD SAID TRANSVERSE WALL OF THE SAID COMPARTMENT AND FROM SAID OPERATIVE POSITION TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION; MANUALLY OPERABLE COUPLING MEANS MECHANICALLY COUPLING SAID OBSTRUCTING MEANS AND SAID PRESSURE MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING EACH OF SAID OBSTURCTING MEANS AND SAID PRESSURE MEANS INTO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION AND FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING EACH OF THE SAID OBSTRUCTING MEANS AND THE SAID PRESSURE MEANS INTO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION; AND MANUALLY OPERABLE LOCKING MEANS IN OPERATIVE PROXIMITY WITH SAID COUPLING MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASABLY LOCKING EACH OF SAID OBSTRUCTING MEANS AND SAID PRESSURE MEANS IN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION. 